Here’s Turkey’s urban rail update

Dec 11 | 2018

With over 50% of Turkey’s population living in cities, and that figure set to accelerate rapidly in the next century, urban rail development is a national priority.

Construction and further expansion of metro systems, tramlines and other light rail systems is ongoing. As expected of infrastructure projects of this type, the costs are high too. With that in mind, let’s take a trip around the Turkish urban rail sector to see what’s happening in this vibrant market.

Metro lines dominate Turkish urban rail construction

As much as $46bn will be spent on upgrading Turkey’s entire rail network between now and 2023. Light rail systems are a big part of this spending, with metro lines factoring in heavily into nationwide plans.

As of January 2018, work on at least 18 branches is underway in Istanbul alone. Turkey’s largest city is a major source of infrastructure projects, so it stands to reason that it retains a healthy appetite for cutting-edge underground lines.

These include:

Kabatas-Mecidiyekoy-Mahmutbey – Currently the largest underground project in Istanbul, with total construction, electrification and rolling-stock costs at a projected $893.5m. Kabatas-Mecidiyekoy-Mahmutbey is due to become one of Istanbul’s key metro lines once the 24.5km route goes live.

Kirazli-Bakirkoy – This line connects parts of central Istanbul to the coast, adding 8.9km to the existing network. Construction costs are in excess of $300m, with a final deadline of 2020.

Atakoy-Ikitelli – Coming up for completion is this 13km line connecting the European Istanbul with the Marmaray connection to Asia. Atakoy-Ikitelli, a work in progress since 2015, is scheduled to open in 2019.

Hyundai Rotem, one of the major rail companies confirmed for Eurasia Rail 2019, is supplying rolling stock to Istanbul metro projects. The South Korean firm inked a deal in 2017 for 120 metro units at a cost of $150m.

Away from Istanbul, a new automated system is coming to industrial hotspot Kocaeli with a price tag of $885m. The new line, which saw building work start in October 2018, is a major undertaking. The route will connect Gebze, a major centre of industry, to Darica, two cities located on the coast of the Marmara Sea.

According to the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, project originators and funders, the line will cover 15.6km. 12 new stations are slated for construction as well. Each train will consist of four wagons, holding a capacity of 1,080 passengers each.

What’s more, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is loaning Izmir $90m for construction costs on expanding the city’s 250km metro network. 7.2km of new east-west facing track on the Fahretting Altay-Narlidere line. An additional $26.6m has been allocated by the EBRD for rolling stock procurement too.

The above projects are responsible for over $1.9bn in investment, showing Turkish commitment to urban rail investment.

This is being complemented by a number of tram projects throughout Turkey.

Tramlines see increased investment

Tramlines in Turkey are a viable alternative to busses and cars in major metropolises. Intelligent Report, for instance, calls Eskisehir’s as a “textbook solution to urban transportation requirements”, by Intelligent Transport.

The tramway, operational since 2004, carries over daily 125,000 passengers, ably connecting two university campuses, the city centre, and two hospitals, as well as Eskisehir railway station and an arts complex.

Now, Turkey is rolling out further tram projects in an attempt to replicate Eskisehir’s success.

In September 2017, the Turkish Ministry of Transport announced that two cities will be getting fresh tram routes over the next couple of years. Erzincan and Erzurum will join he list of Turkish cities currently enjoying tram networks.

As much as $73m has been spent on feasibility studies for both new lines so far.

Where urban transport is slated for further work, Istanbul is never far away. Construction of a new tram line there began in May 2017, and is slated for completion in the same month in 2019. Istanbul’s latest tramway is 10km long, connecting the southern edge of the Golden Horn to deeper into the city.

Costs are expected to total $173.3m for full project delivery.

Trams also represent a strong theme in Turkish rolling stock procurement: localisation. For instance, at domestic fabricators Durmazlar’s plant in Bursa and Bozankaya’s Ankara factory, full localised production of trams is underway. This is a joint venture between local manufacturers Tüvasaş and Hyundai Rotem.

Light rail holds unique business opportunities in Turkey

While high-speed rail may be stealing the headlines, urban transport investment is an integral part of Turkey’s expensive national rail overhaul.

As such, it presents significant opportunities for suppliers of rolling stock, signalling and control systems, plus further infrastructure necessities, including ticketing systems and so on.

Invest in Turkish urban transportation at Eurasia Rail

It’s the one and only event of its kind in Turkey and Eurasia, and third largest worldwide.

Held every two years, Eurasia Rail presents the latest advances in train and rail system technology, providing a unique business platform for manufacturers and buyers alike.

Nearly 12,000 visitors come each year to meet 200 exhibitors from 25 countries worldwide. It is the perfect platform to showcase the latest technologies and rail innovations to a motivated, professional audience.

Major rail companies like Siemens, Alstom, Bombardier and Hyundai Rotem have used the show to meet clients and grow their sales across Eurasia. Now you can do the same.

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